Amusement device

ABSTRACT

An amusement device includes a coin manipulate member for generating and sending an activation signal to activate performance of a predetermined game upon insertion of a duplicate coin and an operating member disposed around and integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin manipulate member and adapted to be rotated by a player so as to change its angle and position, thereby generating a control signal corresponding to the angle and position for controlling the performance of the predetermined game. The determined game begins when the player inserts the duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member.

This application claims the benefits of the Taiwan Patent Application Serial NO. JP2008-216832, filed on Aug. 26, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an amusement device, more particularly to an amusement device in which a duplicate coin is hidden and that the amusement device will be activated upon insertion of the duplicate coin so as to execute performance of a predetermined game.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a conventional amusement device, a predetermined game will be activated upon insertion of a duplicate coin, hence a coin-insert amusement device is invented (please see Japanese Paten Publication NO. H07-411100). The duplicate coin is fabricated for the purpose to facilitate the players when playing these coin-insert amusement devices and a predetermined amount duplicate coins will be given to a player upon cash money is paid to the device proprietor. Thus, the player can insert the duplicate coin into a coin slot of the amusement device, and participates in a match or a game. Upon winning the match, a certain amount of the duplicate coins corresponding to the winning match, will be released from the amusement device. Generally speaking, in such coin-insert amusement device, the game match is activated upon insertion of the duplicate coins into the coin slot. Later, a press button or a joystick is used to control or execution of each game match, such as, if the selected match is shooting a ball into the basket, a predetermined amount of duplicate coins will be released upon winning the match (see Japanese Patent Publication NO. 2006-195544). To be more specific, in case the selected game is shooting match, the display screen will demonstrate a gun or a set of arrow-and-bow. A joystick of another apparatus is used for aiming at the target and by pressing another press button to begin shooting the target. A predetermined amount of duplicate coins will be released upon hitting the target. Recently, suggestions have been raised to simplify the structure of the coin-insert amusement device, such as the shooting operation begins upon insertion of the duplicate coin so that no press button is required for performing the shooting operation. In other words, the coin slot can serve the purpose of press button for accomplishing the shooting operation. Therefore, since no press button is needed at the control console, the cost for constructing the press button or joystick can be economized.

A predetermined elements or components in a conventional amusement device can be minimized. However, in order to compliment with the shooting operation relative to the target, some space is stilled required for installation of the joystick. Thus, as to how to simplify the amusement structure, lowering the construction cost and the restriction caused thereby still remain and needs to be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device, in which, an operating member is integrally formed with a coin manipulate member so as to simplify the structure of the amusement device and simultaneously lowering the construction cost.

In order to accomplish the object of the present invention, an amusement device is provided according to claim 1, wherein the amusement device has the feature to permit a player to insert a duplicate coin to activate a predetermined game match and the reward in the form of duplicate coins will be released from the coin slot upon winning the game match. The amusement device of the present invention accordingly includes a coin manipulate member for generating and sending one activation signal to activate performance of a predetermined game upon insertion of a duplicate coin thereinto; and an operating member disposed around and integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin manipulate member and adapted to be rotated by a player so as to change its angle and position, thereby generating a control signal corresponding to the angle and position for controlling the performance of the predetermined game. The performance of the predetermined game begins when the player inserts the duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member.

The amusement device defined in claim 3 of the present invention, further includes a display member having a display screen for displaying continued actions of the performance of the predetermined game. The display screen is formed with a target at a predetermined position while the performance of the predetermined game is aiming at the target. The operating member generates the control signal according to changing of the angle and position.

In the amusement device defined in claim 3 of the present invention, the performance of the predetermined game includes shooting of the target. The shooting of the target from the changing of the angle and position starts when the display member transmits the activation signal. An operating member is disposed around and integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin manipulate member and is adapted to be rotated by a player so as to change its angle and position, thereby generating a control signal corresponding to the angle and position for controlling the performance of the predetermined game. The performance of the predetermined game begins when the player inserts the duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member.

As described above, since the amusement device of the present invention includes a coin manipulate member, which generates and sends out an activation signal to activate performance of a predetermined game upon insertion of a duplicate coin thereinto, and an operating member disposed around and integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin manipulate member and adapted to be rotated by a player so as to change its angle and position, thereby generating a control signal corresponding to the angle and position for controlling the performance of the predetermined game. The performance of the predetermined game begins when the player inserts the duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of this invention will become more apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating functions of the embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating the controls of the embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a top planar view of a coin manipulate member of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a game performance of the embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is another game performance of the embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is still another game performance of the embodiment of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 8 shows the steps for executing a game performance of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a control console for a coin manipulate member of the amusement device of the present invention;

FIG. 10 shows how a coin manipulate member is co-axially formed with a pulse cam serving as an operating member in the amusement device of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating how the operating member is integrally formed with the coin manipulate member in the amusement device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an amusement device 101 of the present invention, includes an coin manipulate member at an upper portion and a coin eject member at a lower portion thereof. The amusement device 101 is capable of performing target shooting. The amusement device 101 further has the function to change the shooting direction, a coin outlet 104 and a coin manipulate member 103 integrally formed with the coin outlet 104. The upper portion of the amusement device 101 further has a display member 102 having a display screen for displaying a continued action of the performance of a predetermined game. Unlike to the conventional amusement device, no press button and joystick are required for input of signals in the present embodiment. However, in other embodiments, at least one press button may be required for input of signals.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram illustrating functions of the amusement device of the present invention. The amusement device 101 includes a control member 201 for executing a predetermined task upon detecting insertion of a duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member 103. After execution of the predetermined task, a certain amount of duplicate coins resulting from the execution of the task will be released from the coin outlet 104. The amusement device 101 further includes a control setting 202 to permit the device owner for setting several types of the matches or games so as to be controlled by the control member 201. A blocker is disposed at an inner side of the coin manipulate member 103 for preventing the undesired numbers of duplicate coin from being inserted into the coin manipulate member 103. When the blocker is spaced apart from the coin manipulate member 103, the duplicate coins can be inserted into the coin manipulate member 103. When the blocker is located closely to the coin manipulate member 103, the player cannot insert the duplicate coins into the coin manipulate member 103. In the present embodiment, the predetermined game being target shooting activated upon insertion of the duplicate coin. If the predetermined game is other match rather than the target shooting, the blocker can be restricted within the coin manipulate member 103. In case, the shooting operation can proceed upon continuous insertion of the duplicate coins into the coin manipulate member, the blocker is not installed in the amusement device 101.

In addition, the performance of the predetermined game shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, executed by the control member 201 will be displayed in the display screen of the display member 102. The execution of the predetermined game for releasing a certain amount of duplicate coins therefrom depends on the numbers of the duplicate coins inserted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the amusement device 101 of the present invention includes a control unit 301, an insert/operating interface 303, a speaker 305, a display unit 307, a memory device 308 and a coin outlet unit 306. The control unit 301 further includes a control member 302 for controlling operation of the interface and the bus connected to the necessary components or machine parts.

The insert/operating interface 303 includes a coin slot and an operating member integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin slot. In the present embodiment, the operation member is in the form of a doughnut or a circle that can be rotated in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions to generate signals for the control member 302, thereby activating the game (like a weapon) to be displayed in the display screen. When a duplicate coin is inserted into the coin slot, the aforesaid signal is transmitted to the control member 302 so as to activate the predetermined game, such as a shooting operation. The speaker 305 in cooperation with the display screen or independently produces sound in accordance with the input voice signals.

The display unit 307 includes the display member 102 for demonstrating the image data transmitted from the control member 302. A power source 309 is provided for connection to an AC power in order to supply the required voltage or electricity to the amusement device 101. The outlet unit 306 is capable of releasing an appropriate amount of duplicate coins based on the instruction from the control member 302.

The memory device 308 is stored with a plurality of execution programs and the control member 302. The memory device 308 may include ROM, RAM, hard disks, optical disks and many other media accessories provided with game devices, such as externally connectable storage tapes of different types and cartridge, in which a plurality of execution programs are stored for the control member 302.

The amusement device 101 of the present invention is provided with different electronic or mechanical components to be controlled by the control member 302. Thus, the control member 302 is capable of fetching the required program shown in the below paragraphs from the memory device 308 in order to execute the necessary task in each of the preferred embodiments of the present amusement device.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view illustrating a control console for the coin manipulate member 103 of the amusement device 101 of the present invention. As illustrated, the coin manipulate member 103 is disposed at the most-favored position so as to facilitate the operator to operate. FIG. 4 shows a top planar view of the coin manipulate member 103 of the amusement device of the present invention. A circular operating member 401 is mounted on topside of the coin manipulate member 103, and has a coin insert portion 402 at the central section thereof. The coin insert portion 402 is formed with a coin slot 405 and an ejection button 404. In the event, the predetermined game is a shooting match; the player can rotate the circular operating member 401 with a single hand or both hands in order to aim at the target. Upon insertion of the duplicate coins via the coin slot 405, the shooting action starts. Since the coin insert portion 402 and the circular operating member 401 are integrally formed with each other, on press button or joystick is required to be installed on the upper surface the amusement device of the present invention, which, in turn, minimizes the space occupied by the amusement device of the present invention. Of course, in order to provide multiplicity and diversity of the game match, other games, rather that the aforesaid predetermined game activated upon insertion of the duplicate coin, can be equipped in the present amusement device so that the added games can be played with the assistance of external press button from other amusement devices.

Referring again to FIG. 4, a bearing or any rotation means is disposed at the adjoining section so as to dispose the circular operating member 401 at the periphery confining the coin insert portion 402 such that the circular operating member 401 can be rotated smoothly in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The coupling structure of the bearing member should not be restricted thereto. As shown in FIG. 10, a pulse cam 1001 (in disc configuration) is disposed co-axially below the circular operating member 401 and simultaneously rotates together with the circular operating member 401 upon manipulated. The pulse cam 1001 is formed with a plurality of angularly spaced light apertures 1002 for shielding different degrees of light beams, thereby detecting rotation angle of the pulse cam 1001 with respect to the coin manipulate member 103. Detecting the rotation angle of the pulse cam via the light apertures 1002 is known art and a detailed description of the detection operation is deleted for the sake of brevity.

FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating how the coin manipulate member 103 is integrally formed with the circular operating member 401 in the amusement device of the present invention, and further includes an ejection button 404 and a detection member 1101 for sensing insertion of duplicate coin or the numbers of inserted duplicate coin via the operating member 401. As shown in FIG. 3, the detected result is later transmitted to the control member 302 via the insert/operating interface 303. In one embodiment of the present amusement device, the shooting game operation will be activated upon the detection member 1101 detects of the insertion of duplicate coin. In the present amusement device, a certain amount of the duplicate coins is stored in the detection member 1101 and is administered by the control member 302 in such a manner that a portion of the duplicate coin will be released from the coin outlet 104 according to the instruction of the control member 302. However, the scope of the invention should not be limited thereto. The inserted duplicate coins can be stored in other appropriate places, such as the coin storage is handled together with other amusement devices.

The above captioned operating member 401 is installed at the mounting portion 1102 via a bearing to facilitate the rotation thereof. The preceding pulse cam 1001 is mounted at the inner side of the mounting portion 1102 in such a manner to be co-axial with the operating member 401. Regarding the installation technology, any other methods capable of detecting or sensing the rotation speed or angle of the operating member 401 can be employed so as to permit transmission of the result to the control member 302 via the insert/operating interface 303. In the present embodiment, in case the operating member 401 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the shooting action is shifted toward the left side of the display screen. For instance, a variable condenser is used for determining or comparing the shifted angle. In the present embodiment, the operating member is default to rotate several times so that no stopper is required prevent rotation of the operating member, thereby enhancing maintainability. To be more specific, since the operating member 401 is rotatably installed around the periphery confining the coin insert portion 402, thereby retaining the latter securely therein and the pulse cam 1001 and is rotatable idly around the coin insert portion 402. A stopper can be mounted directly on the operation member 401 or via the pulse cam 1001 so as to limit a predetermined rotation range of the operating member 401 (one or two rotations).

FIG. 8 shows the steps for executing a game performance of the amusement device 101 of the present invention. Once the amusement device 101 is connected to the power source, all the components will be initialized and later are ready to execute the game match. Generally speaking, the display member 102 will show the content of games and execute a demonstration to arouse and draw the attention of the player. Alternately, the demonstration may include simple trials to let the player understand the game match. In the present amusement device, the performance of the game match is activated upon insertion of the duplicate coin. The shooting operation will keep going when duplicate coins are inserted continuously. Without insertion of the duplicate coin, the game match will be kept in an idle state, i.e., the amusement device is disposed at the suspending mode.

FIG. 5 illustrates the screen display in the display screen at the suspending mode, wherein the screen display includes a target 502 and a target finder 501 for aiming at the target 502. Under this condition, the circular operating member 401 can be rotated so as to shift the target finder 501 in the leftwise and rightwise directions in order to dispose the target finder 501 aiming at the target 502 (S801). The coin manipulate member 103 is capable of detecting insertion of the duplicate coin (S802) and activating the target finder 501 to trigger the weapon (i.e. starts shooting a locking chain) (S803), shown in the display member 102 and illustrated in FIG. 6. In case, the target 502 is hit, the target finder will be aligned with the target and the same event will be displayed in the display screen (i.e. locking the target with the locking chain) (S804). At this time, a certain amount of duplicate coins is released from the coin outlet (S805).

In the amusement device of the present invention, it is basically design that each of the game matches starts upon insertion of a duplicate coin. A desired game match can be selected by rotating the circular operating member 401. Once the desired game match is selected, the target 502 will be shown in the display member 102. In case the selected game match is a shooting game, a certain amount of duplicate coins will be released from the coin outlet upon hitting the target 502. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the target finder 501 is aiming at the target 502. The scope of the present amusement device should not be limited thereto. Any modifications encompassing the spirit of the present invention should be included in the appended claims, where the coin manipulate member is integrally formed with the operating member. In case it is arranged that a fixed game match is activated in the present amusement device upon each insertion of the duplicate coin and rotation of the operating member results in selection of the desired game match, then the operating member 402 can be integrally formed with the coin manipulate member 401. FIG. 7 illustrates a Pachinko machine 701, in which, it is to shoot the target in order to gain the reward.

While the invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An amusement device comprising: a coin manipulate member for generating and sending one activation signal to activate performance of a predetermined game upon insertion of a duplicate coin thereinto; an operating member disposed around and integrally formed with the periphery confining the coin manipulate member and adapted to be rotated by a player so as to change its angle and position, thereby generating a control signal corresponding to the angle and position for controlling the performance of the predetermined game; wherein, the performance of the predetermined game begins when the player inserts the duplicate coin into the coin manipulate member.
 2. The amusement device according to claim 1, further comprising a coin outlet for releasing the duplicate coin.
 3. The amusement device according to claim 1, further comprising a display member having a display screen for displaying a continued action of the performance of the predetermined game, the display screen being formed with a target at a predetermined position to which the performance of the predetermined game aiming at, the operating member generating the control signal according to changing of the angle and position.
 4. The amusement device according to claim 3, wherein the performance of the predetermined game includes shooting of the target, the shooting of the target from the changing of the angle and position being started when the display member transmits the activation signal. 